Acetylene generator



1951 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed April 25 .,m V W (I BTTOR N E Y conveyor to the generating chamber, hen.

= Patented July Q vcmlmri s'sTErHEN-ivrrt1srn} ornnr'rronnronnon; ENG-BAND 1 mem -ENE GENERATOR [j I Application meg A ri1i25, {1e31,s iarnd.;a2,935; an riciest BiitfiadiibiiiO,iee.

This invention relates to ini irove'mentsj:

in or connected -with acetylene generators,

more particularly to improvementsin means for conveying: and feedingcalcium carbide from a hopper or the like to a generator and V has foryits object inter aliato increase the f fliciency and safety in operation 101 such generators.

According to the present invention there ls'provlded a feeding device, for acetylenegenerators in whichfcalciu'm carbide 1s fed,

by means of a conveyor' from a hopper to the generating chamber characterized by it is desired to open the hopper.

Means are charge ofcarbideiinto the generating chamber and operation of the conveyor has been discontinued. The said sealing means" may 36 be operated from the same-actuatinggfmech the sealing means also cannot be operated to seal the coxiVeYQr'andgenerating chain'-* been interrupted.

The means for, feeding or' conyeying ltli calcium carbide from theihopperor thellike 40' to the generating chamberfmay,comprise a Which'the calcium carbide is fed from jthe 45. ,hopper, Saidconveyor' may be operatedby anysuitable means, such as an electric or other motor, although I preferably. employ a Water-motor Which may be operated'fromthe mains and the dischargetherefrom' may Lbeled into. the generating chamber. s ch;

' the provision of sealingmeans for sealing;

the, hopper from jcb nve'yo r Operate Shutter, "the 7 also preferably provided; wherebyit isimpossibleto open,the-hopper. l l 7 h F for replenishing for example until themeangf' Avalveyshutter'orfltheillkels preferably dram -been" operated for .preyenting dis-f anism as thatwhioh operates the means vfor preventing opening of 'the hopper so'that carbide into the generatingfchamber'g has carrier, belt, chain or thelike or'may lcomar prise bars, chains or theflike caused tov trayerse along abed plateor platformiupon 7 adapted to Qmove'an:interrupter1 Watermotorimaybe adapted 't operatiomthus'a' 1valye theisu'pply pipe may be operated by float controlled mechw" nismor by risefandfall "or agashOIderL The discharge .from "the f -waterimotor in '5 addition to feedingthe' generator chamber mayalsose'rvelfor removing"sludge-from; I such chamber; p V

'Themeans for interrupting"operationof the carbide conveyoror.feedingimeans may f comprise any suitable'clutchmechanisnrin; eluded in the transmission b'etW een -the 1 =mot0r and-the, conveyor and the lever or: j

the like which operates suc clutch may adaptedto close the dischargel ohiite' f'rolnli f said. conveyor-to the-generating -'-ehamber.[" I

In this Way it will libe 'appre'eiated that movement" of the ieonveyor prevented even though the motor -should be in operaprovided at the b'ase 'of the ho e 7 the carbide is fed to the conyeyorand "the." lever or the like operatingsuch shutter may a ofrubber or'other suitable material and S01"? tation of the "carbide is caused: so; as to] .facil-f may be fitted to the"carbidehopperand I preferably (provide means, 'for'j preventingf f removal Qof such closure untilthe shutter or the like over the discharge-orifice hasj 7 h been closed. Thus-a systelnflof links operated by the controlgof. said shutter maybe Trv locking device ass'oeiated'with saidclosure;

'm" tion and further that carbide is prevented 1 from falling from the conveyor into the 80 a i. i of the conveyor hasfbeen interruptechi It i 1" is'tobe observed'that'fsuch shutter makes a gas-tight joint preferably on to a seating I Means according to the present-invention may be associated with any; desired acetylene generating chamber. V j V V In order that the invention maybe well understood a preferred embodiment there of will be described by way of example only with referenceto the accompany ng drawings,. inwhich Figure lflis a-se ction'through a preferred,

form of a complete generator. I s V "F1gure2 lsfan elevation at rightangles ,to the View shown infFigure 1;"

Referring to the drawings a hopper *1" for receivi'ng Land,- discharging calc iu'm carbide] 1S: provided with a removable closure 2 at 'the'top and a flap valve. 3 p voted at/l 'the'base, adapted to open and closea' disvchargelopenlng fi. The plVOllfl preferably comprises ;a pin and slot connection so that the flap 3 can not only rotate about one edge.

but is also m'ovable at-right angles to'the plane of thei opening in'the base of the hop? per 1. The fiapj 3 is preferably provided with, or is adapted to fit on to, ,a'iubber or the like: washer or, seating so] as to pro-c videa gas" tight closure. "The discharge open ng fl opens into a conveyor chamber 6 inwhich is anendless conveyorrchain 7 passlngover sprockets 8', 9.

The flap valve 3 isiarranged so that when it is open itrests'upon the conveyor'bed 'Cthe ribslO of which cause the valveito vibrate i. e. to rise and" fall to slight eXtent.- Mounted on the flap 3' are one or more prongs 11 which project into the inass-.-ot

bide from the hopper.

A rock shaft 12"-rotatably mounted in the n'ppeif part of the casingof the conveyor chamber 6 carries a member in the form of c a lfevercamor plate'13 within the chamber;

and an" operating lever. 14 external to the 1 chamber and parallel with theunember 13.

It. will be seen that when the lever 1449511 clockwise (Fig. themember 113 is re ;tated and allowsthe flap 3 to op'en.-- ,-Rigid- 1y secured to the shaft 12 is a: short lever 15 hingedly' (Fig; connectedfat 16 to a eoclink 17 hingedly connected at its other end;

to another 'SllOl'i) lever 18 mounted on a rock shaftlQ mounted on the hopper at its widest Part; Theshaft 19 carries a short lever 20, connected to a link 21 'hingedly connected at i its other end to a short lever 22 mounted, on a rock shafti23 at the top of thehopper.

V I The conveyor chain 7 is provided with suitabletransverseribs or chains 10 for the purpose of positively urging the. carbide along the bed.

The rock shaft23carries" a lever 1 means 26 for securing and releasing the closure 2. It will be seen that when the lever 14 is in position as shown in Figure '1' the cap .25 is removed from the closure 2 and its securing means v 26 but that if the leveiflt ismoved soas to" allow tl1e flap '3 to open the cap 251s moved into position to coverthe closure 2 and its securing means.- Thustheh'opper, cannot be opened when the 'fiap8is'closed. f Q h,

A rock shaft 27 is mounted so as to extend throughthe conveyor 7 chamber fab'ove the conveyor andnear ,theforward end thereof and car'riesra flap 28 adapted top'reventmae te -rial from being discharged-1from the conveyorwhenthefiapis in the position shown in Figurel with itslower' edge fingcontact bent at right angles and carrying at its eX-" tremity a cap adaptedto fit over screw with theconveyorr The flap is actuated by ram-operating, lever 29- carriedv by the rock shaft- 27 externally of the, conveyor chamber] Pivotallymounted on the lever 29 is a rod This rod 80 is-adaptedto engage in a hole through the leverfl t and the rock, shaft '12 when the lever .14 I in its vuppe rgposition and whenthe lever 29 is in position to hold;

andj28are1in open position the flap 8 cannot beclosed, until flap, 28; has been closed by moving the lever 29 to its forward position shown in Flgure 1. whereby the water engine is declutched "from the conveyor drive shaft '34: as hereinafter described and rodf' 30 is retracted from the holei in the rockice shaft,.12 to. freej lever. l l for. movementg and/or generating cha1nber.-

Tl16 :convey'or' chain 7 is driven byjmeans of a water motor 31 driven'from the mains.

. The water motor-is of the piston type and the piston intermittently rotatesfan ratchet "wheel 33 mounted on) a shaft 34 which carries-the sprocket-"wheels 8," by: means of a suitable pawl, are proi p 7 vide d for throwing the pawloutiofeng'age iits lower position as shown in .yFiguref l," I the nelnber 13 holds'the flapB inclosed po sition but if'the. lever 14is' rotated -courde i 111G116 with the ratchet wheel {upon actuation of the lever.29l-t0 close the flap "28.

These meanscomprise alever 38 carriedby the rock shaft'27, connected :by a .link 35 era cam so which ha the" pawl out or engagement with the ratchet "wheel f 33 so i that theoperationof the conveyQr iS1 dis-' continued :In operation the 'carbide is discharged from the conveyorv intoia chute 475which;

dips below the ywater level'in a generating chamber 48. The carbide descends tliericeon'toa grid 41. Thevwater'wfor the gas: generation .is "supplied, from the motor 31 by means of a' pipe .42,- The. lime pro! duced from the reaction is. carried as a sludge round aebafile plate 431 through. a

watertrap44 and outof a discharge pipe 45;

. lever 29 is first movedintothe position shown therefore the generating chamber :from the hopperg-iAct-uation' of i the lever 14 ;als'o" causesfthe cap, .to be removed from' its "mThe Operation of the plant is as follows 1 Assumefthat the-hopperv is, charged with carbide, the closure. 2 is in place, the "flaps 3g and 28 areopen and the conveyor is' feeding carbide-into the generating I chamber 418,v If;

now it is desired to rechargethe hoppenth in Figurefll so as to stop the conveyor-and to close the-*fiap2'8. Thelever l4 is thereby freed and is then actuated to,closei-the'flap' 3 and thus'seal' the conveyor chamber and protective position overthe closure 2 and its securing means 26:: Thekclos'ure2 can thenbe: removed- Land;- a' fresh ichargei introduced'. The closure 2 maythen beireplaced and the" cap returned to its positionand; at the same i form,furthengenerators.incorporating my timeofcourse the flap3 is opened; v v

Preferably: however, in order further ."to pre vent any possible admixture of air with the? acetylene, 7' prior Eto replacing the closure 2, leverrli is rotated anti-clockwise a short distance to a 'stop point provided onthe quadrant 46 whicheases flap 3 sov thatit no j longer makes a'gas tight oint on: the mouth of the hopper 5 and therefore permits the acetylene retained under slight compression in theconveyor chamber 6 [to vescape through the interstices between the carbide inthe hopper 1- andldrive out thelair therefrom,

thus obtaining complete "freedom from air throughout the whole generating apparatusf The required" amount of movement of le ver 14 to perform this operation is insufficient to cause any appreciable movement tocap 25 or to cause 1t to prevent access to clo' sure 2and its securingmeans26.

The closure 2is then'replaced and securedafter which lever 14 isrotated in an anti-, clockwise direction the remainder of its travel, opening flap 3 and moving cap 25 to its protective posit-ion over closure 2.

The flap '28 is then opened by actuation of the lever 29 and simultaneouslyjthe, conveyor is set in operation. 3

Anydesired inspection door'or doors for facilitating cleaning of the apparatus may of course be provided. thus for instance I preferably provide a door in the wall of the generator through which the complete conveyor unit maybe easily withdrawn and inserted when desired.

The operation of a generator incorporating feeding means as above set forth is'substantially fool proof by reason ofthe provi- .'sion of means for ensuring the operation of the controlsin the correctlorder, andifurther the apparatus is, very eflicient in loperationfl process.

In Falgmo dificationgof the above example a an electri c motorpfor'example may be :used- 1n place-0fthewater=mo'tor1andn-suclrcascs a pumpipr the like maybe used for fe'e ding sludge therefrom if desired. a

water to the generator and" for-removing the scope'thereofg-thus for example the' con .veyor chamber may "be 'i'nf direct colnmuni cation with the generat ng chamber instead of being separated therefrom the-water sealedk chute; T gt? Fur t-herthe conveyor 7 and/ or the;iplatform over which onveying; means travelmay beof any'desired size' and 1 shape, thus for instance curved bars may rbe 9;

I by reason. inter alia offthewuniform' feeding, of the carbide .and :the prevention of access 7 to the acetylene of; air during: the charging adapted to traverse acjoncavedflbe d or plat invention may be so arranged-thatautomatic change over from one "generator "to anotherl may be effected; f5 I I claim':'" 3

An acetylene""generatercomprising a carbide ho' 'iperya conveyorfchamber com nu 'iicati'ng therewith, 1 a; conveyor}, in said conveyor-chamber, a igeneratingchamber of carbide from the "conveyor to the generat rupted. 1

communi cating vith said conveyor chamber, i gas tight sealingmean's for sealing said hop-1; per from said conveyor chamber and nean's} for interrupting and preventing discharge 2. An acetylene generator comprising alfl carbide hopper, a conveyor chamber com- 'municating therewith, a conveyor in'said 1. conveyonchamber, a generating chamber communicating with said'conveyor chamber,

{gas tight means forjsealingsaidhopper e from said conveyor chamber, a closuref'for said hopper,protectivemeans'for prevent;

ingopening of -the hopper,fcommon control means for, the, protective -means and the '2 I sealing means, and means for interrupting and preventing discharge of carbide from the conveyor, thesaid common control means being so associated with" the means for interrupting and preventing discharge- 0f carbide. from thleconveyor that they can notlbe' operated to effect a sealhntil theidi scha rge of carbide from the conveyor has beenin I v terrupted.

'3fAn acetylene' eneratorl comprising a hopper,- a 'conveyor-. c l1amber :coimminicating' therewith, conveyor Within said conveyor; chainber,-'a generating r-chamber communi eating with said conveyor chamber, a flap valve at the baseiof thehopper for-efiecting.

' a'gasitight sjea'lofsai'd'hopper 'fr om said conveyorchamber,:a;closure' at the top of said hopper, ,protective means, for preventing openingof the hopper and: commoncontrol for theflprotective; means and the. flap valve; 1

,t qAn acetylen at the. base of said hopper for-[e ectinga gas tight seal -of ]said hopperfromsaid con- I 'veyor chamber, a closure for saidhoppen'a protectivecapfor preventing'opening of the -hopper,, a control lever for operating the neeting said control lever with said cap. I

' 5. An acetylene generator comprisingra carbide hopp erfiafic'onveyor chamber'comflapvalve and linkand lever mechanism (-011- municating therewith, a conveyorin said conveyor chamber, a generating chamber communicating with said conveyor chamber,

a flap, valve atithelb'ase of saidv hopper'for,

- effecting a gas tight seal of said hop per from '1 zopeningof the hopper, a control-leverffor operating the flap valve, 'linkjand lever conveyor. chamber, a closure for .said hopper,, .protective'cap for preventing mechanism connecting said control lever with said cap, means forlinterrupting and preventing discharge 7 of carbide from the r conveyor, alockinglneansfor locking said control lever, said locking meansbeingsoassociated with the means for interrupting I and preventing the discharge of carbide from. the conveyor thatfactuationof the lat? 'ter releases said control lever for operation. 7

V 6.1An; acetylenei'generator comprising. a carbide hopper, a conveyorchamber' 'coms a flap valve at the base o'f s'aid hopper for effectinga-gas tight seal of said-hopper'from' :said conveyor chamber, a closure for said" hopper, a- :protective' cap for-preventing opening of the hopper, a, common control" I: :so

lever for the protective c apand the flap municating.1therewith,a conveyor in said-f conveyor chamber, a generatlng chamber's cornmun catingwithosaid conveyor chamber, a

valve,'means for'inte'rrupting and prevent-Q ing the dischargeof carbide from theconveyor, acontrol lever for said last mentioned means, means for lockingthe control lever 'ofthe: protective'cap and sealing means in position to maintain the cap-in protective positioni'and to maintain thelflap valve at the base of the hopper open, said locking v 'ineansbeing actuated bysaid second men-'- tioned'control lever. I i i a -7; An acetylene generator comprising a carbide hopper, a conveyorchamber, corn municating therewith, I an endless beltconv'e'yor ochamber upstanding projections on;

said belt conveyor, a generating chamber.

communicating with said conveyor chamber,"

a flap, valveat the base ofsaid' hopper for effecting a gas tight seal of said' hopper from said'generating chamber, said flap valve resting on-saidbelt conveyor when in open position and carrying prongs which project into the carbide in'the base of thefhOpperf whereby agitation oftheffiap valvefl'by the projections on the-conveyor. prevent bridging of thecarbide inthe base of thehopper;

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